nocturnal
pronunciation
How to pronounce nocturnal in British English:
UK [nɒkˈtɜːnl]
How to pronounce nocturnal in American English:
US [nɑːkˈtɜːrnl]
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- Adjective:
- belonging to or active during the night
- of or relating to or occurring in the night
- of or during or relating to the night
Word Origin
- nocturnal
- nocturnal: see night
- nocturnal (adj.)
- late 15c., from Old French nocturnal "nightly, nocturnal," or directly from Late Latin nocturnalis, from Latin nocturnus "belonging to the night," from nox (genitive noctis) "night," cognate with Old English neaht (see night) + -urnus, suffix forming adjectives of time. Nocturnal emission "involuntary ejaculation during sleep" first recorded 1813.
Synonym
Example
- 1. Colleagues describe a nocturnal control freak with a stubborn streak .
- 2. But new research suggests they 've become far more the nocturnal creatures of blake 's poem .
- 3. Skunks are nocturnal animals - it appears to be asleep , and thankfully , its tail is down .
- 4. Design improvements and energy savers like motion detectors will also reduce the amount of light that beams skyward , which biologists increasingly say disrupts nocturnal wildlife .
- 5. A nocturnal movement disorder , restless leg syndrome can feel like itchiness , tingling , or prickling that makes you feel like you have to move your legs .